Considering reasons to visit the Algarve? Stuart Forster meets André Gomes, President of Turismo do Algarve, who explains that the region is a year-round destination with much to offer beyond its most popular municipalities.
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Reasons to visit the Algarve
The Algarve celebrated two significant tourism-related milestones in 2025. Faro Airport turned 60 and the Algarve Tourism Board 55. Both played major roles in helping to establish Portugal’s tourism industry.
“The British market continues to be one of our main international markets,” says Mr Gomes. He explains that the Algarve’s regional tourism board is continuing to manage sustainable growth in the domestic and international markets.
“It’s a destination that can be visited all year. We have a perfect climate. We have a diversity of offers…much more than just sunny beaches and golf,” he asserts.
Promoting nature tourism has been a focal point over the past decade. “It’s an amazing way, a sustainable way, for people to get to know our territory,” adds Mr Gomes.
He encourages visitors to head inland and experience the mountainous landscape and cultural heritage of towns and villages.
Points of interest in the Algarve include the Cape of St Vincent (Cabo de São Vicente), the most southerly point in mainland Europe. The nearby Fortress of Sagres has historic connections with Portugal’s Age of Discoveries.
Sustainable tourism in the Algarve
In recent years, several European tourism destinations have suffered from overtourism. That has led to high-profile protests from locals against inbound tourism. Careful management has been a factor in that not being the case in the Algarve.
“We want to continue sustainable growth,” says Mr Gomes. “We are aiming to manage our tourist flows, to showcase all the territory and manage touristic activity throughout the region.
“Fortunately, we don’t have the problem of overtourism, but that doesn’t give us the idea that it can’t happen. We have to continue to work to avoid those kinds of things.
“In 2024, we had more than 21 million overnight stays in our region. About 70% were in three municipalities – Albufeira, Loulé and Lagoa. We have 16 municipalities, including Monchique, Faro, Tavira and Vila Real de Santo António.
“That’s what we have to showcase to everybody, for people to understand that the Algarve is much more than Albufeira, Vilamoura and our coasts. We have a diverse region.”
Sporting events in the Algarve
The Algarve is set to host several major sporting events:
Vilamoura Equestrian Centre will host the Algarve Vilamoura Classic. That includes a CSI5* Master Tour event, the highest level of international competition, from 24 to 29 March 2026. A CSI4* event takes place from 17 to 22 March.
A five-year agreement has been reached for the Portugal Invitational golf tournament to be played in the Algarve. In 2026, the Portugal Invitational will be played at The Els Club Vilamoura from 31 July to 2 August. The field will include PGA TOUR Champions, World Golf Hall of Fame and Legends Tour players.
The MotoGP Grand Prix of Portugal will take place on the weekend of 13 to 15 November 2026. The venue will be the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve (Algarve International Circuit) at Portimão.
Earlier in the year, the circuit will host a round of the World Superbike Algarve. The WorldSBK Portuguese is scheduled for the last weekend in March.
In 2027 and 2028, the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve will host Formula 1 Grand Prix racing.
Hiking in the Algarve
The Algarve’s hiking and cycling trails enable people to appreciate the countryside. They include lesser trodden trails in the interior that bring people close to the region’s nature and wildlife.
The River Guadiana marks the border between Portugal and Spain. The nearby Parque da Ribeira da Foupana (Tenência) is rated highly by birdwatchers. Its trails attract hikers.
The Costa Vicentina features trails of multiple levels and lengths. Running for 226.5 kilometres (141 miles), the coastal Fisherman’s Trail has 13 stages and is regarded as challenging. A 144.5-kilometre (90-mile) long-distance mountain bike trail connects Amoreiras-Gare and Santa Clara-a-Velha.
The Algarve Walking Season consists of five walking festivals held from November to April. Barão de São João Walk and Art Fest (during November) is followed by the Monchique Walking Festival (November into December).
The first event of the year is the Santa Bárbara de Nexe Walking Festival (beginning at the end of January). The Caminheiros Border Experiences (mid-March) precedes the Walking Festival Ameixial (late-April).
Algarve flights
Faro has direct flights from airports across the United Kingdom and elsewhere in Europe.
Air Transat operates seasonal flights from Toronto Pearson International Airport to Faro.
In May 2025, United Airlines started a seasonal service between Newark Liberty International Airport and Faro.
Hotels in the Algarve
New hotel openings in the Algarve for 2026 include the 257-room Hyatt Regency Vilamoura and 155-room Canopy by Hilton Vilamoura Marina. Several other developments are planned.
Search for accommodation in Vilamoura and other destinations across the Algarve using the map below:
Books about the Algarve
Planning a trip to the Algarve? You can buy the following books from Amazon:
DK Top 10 The Algarve.
History of Portugal: A Captivating Guide to Portuguese History from Ancient Times to the Present.
Lonely Planet’s Pocket Algarve guidebook.
Lonely Planet’s Portugal guidebook.
Further information
Discover things to do in the Algarve on the Visit Algarve website.
Thank you for visiting Go Eat Do and reading this
Stuart Forster, the author of this post, lived for two years in Portugal.
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